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Juan Pablo Socino has left Edinburgh Rugby by mutual agreement, departing to take up a contract with El Salvador in the Spanish División de Honor – currently known as the Liga Heineken. He makes the move just a year after joining the Scottish side from Newcastle Falcons.
The 31-year-old center, originally from the Los Matreros club in Buenos Aires, moved to England in 2010 to play for Rotherham Titans. He then spent single seasons with Nottingham and Albi before returning to Rotherham in 2013, scoring more than 300 points to earn the Championship scoring title in 2013-14.
Socino’s impressive performance caught the eye Newcastle, and Falcons snapped him up in 2014. He also returned to international contention, earning a call to Los Pumas and making his test debut against Australia in June 2015. Selection to the World Cup that year followed and Socino won his last test cap against South Africa in London.
After making 92 appearances in four seasons at Newcastle he signed for Edinburgh ahead of last season. The move didn’t quite work out for Socino, who was largely consigned to reserve duty, and he made only five starts in 16 appearances for the club. Younger brother Santiago, a hooker, was also at Falcons until his recent return home to join the Jaguares.
El Salvador are firmly established as one of most successful clubs in Spain’s top division. Founded in 1960, they have won the title eight times, most recently in 2016. For the past three seasons they have finished runner-up to Valladolid – with whom they share a home ground at the Estadio Pepe Rojo.
